Who is who in the PISSAM Network

The Network/Centre is administered by a community based management model, which encompasses the principle of facilitating services which are flexible and responsive to community needs and complements services provided by Government agencies. We are happy to work with all agencies who wish to link with us on the various issues re Pacific Islanders.

The Management Committee is made up of Grassroots Pacific Islanders specialists in their capacity representing the profession they are members of from various professions, including an honourable magistrate, a Deputy Mayor of Canterbury council, auspice body Riverwood community Manager and Director, Pacific Islanders grassroots specialist in all spectrum of various professional, Pacific Islanders University students representatives,agency representatives, Service Providers, and individuals with varied backgrounds and experience, who together cover a cross section of the general attitudes of the Pacific Islanders and emerging Community in which they operate.

As a Pacific Islanders community-based organisation,it is not limited by State,Local Government & Federal nor does it have religious affiliations. This ensures its independence to represent the social needs of the Pacific Islanders Community in which we live regardless of any religion or belief. It is aslo open to any multicultural & general community if they rather use our services. All Pacific Islanders, emerging communities and the whole community are welcome to all services of the PISSAM program.We are happy to say that our homework program are enjoyed and attended by Arabic and Korean.  They are friends of the Pacific Islanders Youths.  PISSAM is excited, they brought a lot of courage to our Pacific Islanders youths.

The Network/Centre is supported financially by Canterbury Council, State Government, Department of Community Services, Education Department, Immigration Department, Attorney General Department, Punchbowl Ex-Servicemen's Club and Earlwood Bardwell Park RSL. PISSAM has its own fund raising effort and donations. Over the years from a small beginning, the Centre has steadily expanded, now providing a diverse range of services. 

The Chief Executive officer/Principal Researcher full time, a Principal Solicitor full time, a co-ordinator/project manager full time, an administration officer full time, a Community worker full time, a Counsellor full time, trained volunteers and four part-time tutors, a recreation and sport manager working 12 hours a week with an assistant, and 2 youth workers @ 8 hrs each at the Network/Centre and in the Football grounds across Canterbury. This arrangement is not only cost effective, but ensures that the Network/Centre can be seen as part of the Community, as functioning within the parameters of the Community Centre Philosophy: "That we are committed to affirmative action which acknowledges the rights of all groups and individuals to services which are accessible, viable and appropriate to meet their individual needs".

We also have our Executive members and our partners the service providers and they are accessible 24 hrs also. PISSAM are pleased to say that not only Pacific Islanders but other emerging communities are participating in our program. Mark in red are our linking 24 hrs service

Child Abuse Prevention Service (Lorraine Wright)  24hrs

Medi- LINK Counselling Services (Mohini Prasad)

David Cohen Solicitors (David Cohen) Sydney

Michael Vaughan (Johnston Vaughan Solicitors) Kogarah

Hibah Harim (Solicitor) Sydney

Hifo Leva PISSAM Principal Solicitor/Reg/Nurse)  24hrs

Orana Board (Jane Bastin-Sikimeti) Chief Consultant

Pelenatita Mafi Young (Compliance Taxation Dept)

Patu Medics (Dr Patu) Campsie/Mt Druitt)  24hrs

Dr Rifi (Belmore)  24hrs

Ramona Johansson Mahe (Director of Nursing) 24hrs

Immigration Enquires: Registered

Migration Directions Australia (Houssam and Ezzah) Lakemba

(Senat and Associates) and Solicitors Punchbowl

Acupuncture associates (Jane Wu) Ph: 02 9787 9739 3A/9 4-98 Beamish St Campsie. 2194

Dr Zachariah Matthews and Mrs. Matthews (Punchbowl)

EDUCATION:

Kalo Sikimeti (PISSAM CEO/Principal Researcher and Program Director) representing the Catholic University and Schools for Pacific Islanders Communities General Counselling & Social Worker 24hrs

Vana (Drama teacher Holy Spirit) (Lakemba)

Elisapeta Lolesio (PISSAM dietitian and teacher)

ATL Translators and Associates (Santina)

John Valu Sikimeti (Treasurer) for Australian Catholic Community/Auditor for Pacific Islanders Community/Treasurer for Tongan Community Support Services TCSS

CO-COORDINATOR LIASON OFFICER: (CANTERBURY HARMONY GROUP INC. Anne Latu (Grief Counsellor, interpreter, Family consultant, Community Contact officer on any of our services with Government non Government Services, Catholic & Private Schools, Children, parents, Senior Citizens, Multicultural and the general Communities across Canterbury 24hrs

BILINGUAL COUNSELORS

Vesna Vukovic Bsc Dip of Counselling JP (Cantonese, Serbian, Macedonian and Russian)

Ruby Yap JP Dip of Counseling (Cantonese, Teochew, Hokkien, Japanese, Mandarin) Naheed Hakim (BA major in Psychology)

BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES

Walker Party Hires  (24 hrs)

Polikati Foketi (Pacific Connect)

Palms Deli (Norm Saad)

Hina Funerals and Midnight Venue Security (24hrs)

John and Fred Ducan (Eternity Funerals) (24hrs)

Mailangi & Melissa (Jumping Castle) 

We are connected locally across Canterbury and beyond:For all these services.

This is the only Pacific Islanders Network/Centre of its kind across Canterbury and it is extended to other Local Government Areas, surrounding district and beyond. It is unique for its 24 hrs service with its phone line grief counselling, child abuse and taking care of families when someone dies during the night, during office hours and after hours. We are also have accessed to all facilities funeral parlours. All services that runs by our auspice body Riverwood Community Centre and others by appointment only. All our 24hrs services deals with the whole spectrum with the 1st point of contact and will take all information right there.  So if you contact for a death in the family, you have to have this information ready when you call.

In case of suspicious, accident, suicide you have to ring the police, if in doubt we are happy to take your call and we can go through the process with you.

Otherwise you can contact us and we can help with any death in Australia and abroad.

The name of the decease

Where the death is occurred

The full name of the decease and Date of Birth

The name of the decease's Doctor

Assuming that the caller will be the legal applicant your full name, current details and address

All papers re the decease' future reservation for funerals & Memorials.

If you need more go to the WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE DIES page in PISSAM' S website. We can also help with just about everything, any issues in the community, either that we can solve it on the spot or we can refer you to our working partners and they can see you in the very next day.  With lawyers we can arrange an appointment for you for the very next day at 8am or after 5pm.  This is due to the heavy schedules of attorneys and we do not want you to wait forever.  Legal Aid services, you can have half an hour free of charge and it does not matter you are a pensioner or a rich businessman.